2019 Hyundai Veloster: Preview, Pricing, Release Date

Model Preview

While the Hyundai Veloster looked radical when it initially rolled out back in 2012, its appearance has arguably become stale in recent years. Hyundai will finally give the car a complete makeover with the redesigned 2019 Veloster, which includes a new look and all-new performance version called the Veloster N.

The 2019 Veloster’s silhouette will be familiar, as it will retain that tapered roofline and short liftgate design, but its nose will be longer, its body lines much sharper, and its headlights and taillights fully redone. It will also gain Hyundai's wider mesh grille, and new front and rear bumpers. On the wilder side will be the Veloster N, which will boast a more aggressive roof-mount spoiler, larger air intakes, red accents on the front and rear bumpers, and a wider dual-exhaust system.

Inside, the 2019 Veloster will be fully revamped as well. It’ll boast a more futuristic appearance with more shapely curves than the previous generation. It’ll also feature a “floating” touchscreen, and contrasting color scheme on the Turbo Ultimate models. Tech will also be updated, as it will gain standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an available head-up display, an available wireless charging pad, and Blue Link telematics.

Under the hood, there will be some significant changes in the powertrain department. Here, the base engine will become a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder that will produce 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. This engine will mate with either a six-speed manual or automatic.

On the Turbo trims, the Veloster will use the familiar turbocharged 1.6-liter four-pot with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. This engine will pair with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch. For those feeling a bit wild, the Veloster N will boast a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 275 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The N will only have a six-speed manual available.

Being a tiny hatchback, the Veloster struggled in IIHS testing, getting only a “Marginal” rating in the small-overlap test. With the 2019 Veloster’s longer hood, we could see some improvement. What we do know is that the all-important automatic emergency braking system is standard -- yes, standard -- on this new hatchback.

Pricing & Release Date

Hyundai expects to have the majority of the 2019 Veloster lineup in showrooms by the second quarter of 2018. The Veloster N, though, isn’t planned to arrive until the fourth quarter.

Pricing is hard to pinpoint, but the standard Veloster range should see a slight increase over the 2017 model’s MSRP range of $20,085 to $24,685 (destination fees included). On the other hand, we expect the Veloster N to start in the $27,000 range.